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Randi Dixon, a member of the Janitorial & Custodial team, has maintained employment with SOAR365 for more than 11 years now. “I was still in school when I first heard about SOAR365,” says Randi. “It was a big experience for me to start working; I was finally being paid, I was respected by everyone, and I love the people I work with.”
The success of SOAR365’s Adult Day Support is sustained by a skilled staff, engaged volunteers, and participants who join in a wide variety of activities and special events. Beginning this year, a new group has made an important contribution to the Adult Day Support success story.
“Home” can mean many different things to different people. Whether it refers to your permanent residence, your hometown or the place where you feel most yourself and safe, having somewhere to call home is incredibly important.
Which is why SOAR365’s Respite program aims to make Camp Baker a home away from home for many, including a young participant named Sade and her family.
Little Nevaeh is a fighter. Born at just 27 weeks, she had brain injuries that led to cerebral palsy (CP). After three months in the NICU, Nevaeh was finally able to come home to her mom, Martricia. SOAR365 has been by their side ever since.
What has SOAR365 helped Nevaeh learn to do? “Everything,” says Martricia.
After a 33-year career as a Registered Nurse (RN), SOAR365 volunteer Kim Lynch brought her valuable skills to Camp Baker this summer. There, she served a group of campers who benefited from her expertise and attention to detail gained through decades of working with patients and their families.
When Kim saw counselors greeting incoming campers, she said they made “an instant connection.”
Adult Day Support participants are often on the go! They enjoy trips to museums, movie theaters, restaurants and stores—learning important life skills along the way. But one of their favorite activities is volunteering. They love to deliver meals with Feed More’s Meals on Wheels program. "Volunteering with Meals on Wheels helps our participants develop...
Our Landscaping & Grounds Maintenance team serves the Defense Supply Center Richmond and Fort Gregg-Adams— and they never have a slow day. From mowing to leaf blowing, and from planting flowers to shoveling snow, the crew of 22 full-time employees is busy year-round.
Deborah Foster loves managing this team, which includes 17 employees with disabilities. “I appreciate everything our employees do, and I am so proud of how much they achieve,” says Deb.
Our DSPs work hard to meet each participant’s goals. Daily activities focus on life skills, like reading, cooking, cleaning, shopping and more.
“We are here for the individuals and getting to know them,” says Gloria Womack, DSP. And Gloria has known some of our participants longer than anyone—they met her decades ago as a special education teacher at Maymont Elementary!
![Hear From Our Dedicated DSPs: Celebrating National DSP Recognition Week [VIDEO]](https://soar365.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SOAR365-DSP-Recognition-Week-Saunders-Staff.png)
September 8-14 is Direct Support Professional (DSP) Recognition Week! DSPs are the heart of SOAR365’s Youth Services, Adult Day Support and Respite programs because they’re responsible for the care of our program participants. Learn more about this rewarding career.
Jack’s diagnosis is rare. So rare, that only ten cases of Warsaw Breakage Syndrome have been reported worldwide!
Luckily, Jack’s SOAR365 physical therapist is pretty rare, too. Sam Cipolla specializes in helping medically complex kids. “Jack is actually the one who made me realize that’s what I enjoyed,” says Sam.
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